Page 21 of The American

And not fall in love with him in the process.

Chapter 12

Thad’s phone scrolled about a billion messages. Most from Torren. The breakfast meeting was going to be something. He braced himself.

Lucan wanted to talk before. He’d, of course, been setting up security and background checks on Sage. It was more difficult to do for her since she lived in the United States and less of the surveillance type measures were legal, but Thad was sure Lucan would find a way to be aware of as much of this experiment as he could.

Thad moved to sit on his balcony, the late night air finally losing some of the day’s scorching heat. The park would look beautiful in a few more hours when the early morning light begins to chase the shadows away. Thad lifted the laptop and turned it on. Video opened immediately to the conference room and his mother stepped in front of the camera.

“Hello darling.”

“Oh hello mother.”

“I want to look into your face when you answer these questions. Who is Sage Parker? Why are you giving her so much attention? Trying to win her back? And what was Monique doing there? Kissing you? Thad, are you alright? This just isn’t like you. Do you need to come home? That awful penthouse can be nothing like your rooms at the palace. You were happy here.”

He laughed. “Mother, which question would you like me to answer?”

“Oh just any. I want the whole story.”

“Sage is a good friend. She is the co-CEO of the company I work for, and I have the greatest respect for her.”

Tripp’s voice made him smile. “And she’s a hottie.”

“No one’s a hottie to you, except Jenneca.” His mom swatted at him.

“I didn’t say I was interested, just praising Thad’s taste.”

His mother waved Tripp away behind her. It didn’t matter where Tripp stood in the room, his mother’s face took up the whole laptop screen. “Don’t listen to him. Hottie or not, she’s an American, Thad.”

Jo cleared her throat in the background.

“Not, that we have any problems with Americans. Of course we love Jo. But honey, she doesn’t seem like the Torren type. Would she want to live here? Because I’m sure you don’t want to live there forever, become an actual American, do you?”

“Mother, you don’t have anything to worry about.” Though Thad had those same concerns. “I’m Torren through and through.”

Lucan peered in over their mother’s shoulder. “He says this while wearing his Mickey Mouse shirt.”

“No one has anything to worry about. As soon as everyone gets here, I’ll cover it in my report.”

His mom sniffed, then said, “I miss you darling. Will you be back for our August festival?”

“I’ll try.” It would be excellent publicity. “Maybe I’ll bring Sage with me.”

Trane’s hoot made Thad smile. “He’s bringing a girl home for the festival. There’s something to worry about now, if there ever was.”

“Oh stop.” Their mother held a hand at the side of Trane’s face and kissed his cheek. “I love you boys. So many of you are happily married with wonderful women. I just want the same for you all.”

Lucan groaned. “We know, Mother. You wish us all strapped to a woman with little children in tow.”

“The women in the room might not appreciate the word, ‘strapped’.” Jo smiled, but Thad knew she was starting gentle and Lucan might hear more if he didn’t correct himself.

“I’m sorry, Jo. You are all family. No one is strapped.” He dipped his head in a short bow. And Jo waved him away. “I know what you mean. But I’m working on everyone’s language. Make sure you say what you mean, precisely.”

Lucan mumbled in his hand mic so that only Thad could hear. “I said exactly what I meant.”

Thad smirked and shook his head. “Is everyone present? I have to get at least some sleep before heading to work early this morning.”

“Meeting your new love?” Nico sat beside his wife.

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